Poverty and living standards in Southern Province, Zambia: official figures
63.5% of people in Southern Province lived below the national poverty line in 2022, up from 57.6% in 2015; 4th lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 60.0%, up from 54.4%).
How many people in Southern are extremely poor?
50.9% of people in Southern Province were extremely poor in 2022, unable to afford even the basic food basket, up from 38.1% in 2015; 4th lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 46.1%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency · saved copyHow common is domestic violence in Southern?
38.1% of women in Southern Province who had ever had a husband or partner had suffered emotional, physical or sexual violence from their current or most recent partner (2024), 3rd highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 34.3%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- Southern Province was home to 12.8% of all Zambians living in poverty in 2022, against 12.1% of the population counted in the 2022 census. Source: Zambia Statistics Agency · saved copy
- 20.7% of people in Southern Province belonged to the poorest fifth of Zambian households by assets and housing in 2024, 4th lowest of the 10 provinces (by definition, 20% nationally). Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copy
How Southern Province compares with other provinces
Population below the national poverty line (2022)
Southern Province ranks 7 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population below the national poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Luapula Province | 77.3% |
| 5 | Eastern Province | 76.4% |
| 6 | Central Province | 67.5% |
| 7 | Southern Province | 63.5% |
| 8 | North-Western Province | 61.6% |
| 9 | Copperbelt Province | 35.9% |
| 10 | Lusaka Province | 27.0% |
Population in extreme poverty (2022)
Southern Province ranks 7 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in extreme poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Eastern Province | 62.7% |
| 5 | Western Province | 61.6% |
| 6 | Central Province | 55.4% |
| 7 | Southern Province | 50.9% |
| 8 | North-Western Province | 50.6% |
| 9 | Copperbelt Province | 23.4% |
| 10 | Lusaka Province | 16.5% |
More on Southern Province: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Zambia
Sources
- Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program): Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2024, Final Report (province rows of Tables 2.6, 2.12, 3.3, 3.9.1, 5.2, 8.1, 8.3, 9.8, 10.4, 11.1, 14.4.1, 16.11, 17.2, 17.7), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 12e99ddc4a98…)
- Zambia Statistics Agency: 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey Report (Tables 6.2, 10.2, 14.8; Figures 12.3, 12.6, 12.27), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e5a8bbf667e0…)
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